The Sandkings (band)
Encyclopedia
The Sandkings, were an indie pop
music band, from Wolverhampton
, England
, who had minor success in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
They were named after a 1981 collection of sci-fi short stories by George R. R. Martin
(called Sandkings
).
Their first four singles were released on their own Long Beach Records - the first, "Rain", featured a singer called Andy Parton, before they recruited Jas Mann
as their lead vocalist. They toured with other West Midlands
bands including The Wonder Stuff
, Pop Will Eat Itself
and Ned's Atomic Dustbin
as well as being the opening act for Happy Mondays
and The Stone Roses
in the early 1990s.
Mann left the band in 1992 because of creative differences, and they disbanded. Mann went on to form Babylon Zoo
who had a No. 1 single with "Spaceman
" in over 20 countries in 1996. Dodd went on to form Gravity Wheel with Brown and Producer/DJ Lee 'Peza' Perry, and released several critically acclaimed singles 'WSH', 'Tears in the Rain', and 'U Mudda U', as well as album 'Bulldogtunawasp'. They also provided several re-mixes for other artists. Kirkbride went on to play for Southern Fly and Proud Mary, as well as touring the world with a solo Noel Gallagher (Oasis). He also is accredited as playing on Oasis' album 'Dont Believe the Truth', and Pul Weller's '22 Dreams'.
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
music band, from Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, who had minor success in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
They were named after a 1981 collection of sci-fi short stories by George R. R. Martin
George R. R. Martin
George Raymond Richard Martin , sometimes referred to as GRRM, is an American author and screenwriter of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for A Song of Ice and Fire, his bestselling series of epic fantasy novels that HBO adapted for their dramatic pay-cable series Game of...
(called Sandkings
Sandkings
Sandkings is a collection of science fiction short stories by George R. R. Martin, published in 1981. The multiple-award-winning title story concerns a race of insectoid, militaristic alien 'pets' who worship their master until he badly mistreats them...
).
Their first four singles were released on their own Long Beach Records - the first, "Rain", featured a singer called Andy Parton, before they recruited Jas Mann
Jas Mann
Jasbinder Singh "Jas" Mann is a British song-writer, musician, singer and record producer.-Early life:...
as their lead vocalist. They toured with other West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
bands including The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band, originally based in Stourbridge, West Midlands, in the Black Country, England.-Origins:...
, Pop Will Eat Itself
Pop Will Eat Itself
Pop Will Eat Itself are an English alternative rock band, originally formed in Stourbridge in 1986, with members from Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country. Initially known as a Grebo act, their style changed to incorporate sample driven indie and industrial rock...
and Ned's Atomic Dustbin
Ned's Atomic Dustbin
Ned's Atomic Dustbin are an English rock band formed in Stourbridge in West Midlands in November 1987. The band took their name from an episode of The Goon Show. The band were unusual for using two bass players in their lineup: Alex Griffin played melody lines high up on one bass, and Mat Cheslin...
as well as being the opening act for Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
and The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
in the early 1990s.
Mann left the band in 1992 because of creative differences, and they disbanded. Mann went on to form Babylon Zoo
Babylon Zoo
Babylon Zoo were a British rock band of the mid-1990s from Wolverhampton, England, fronted by Jas Mann. They were best known for the song "Spaceman", which on its release on 21 January 1996, went straight to #1 on the UK Singles Chart, selling 418,000 copies in the first week of...
who had a No. 1 single with "Spaceman
Spaceman (song)
"Spaceman" is a song by British singer-songwriter Jas Mann, of Babylon Zoo. Known for its heavily distorted guitars and metallic, robotic-sounding vocals, it went straight to Number 1 on the UK singles chart on 21 January 1996, selling 418,000 copies in the first week of release...
" in over 20 countries in 1996. Dodd went on to form Gravity Wheel with Brown and Producer/DJ Lee 'Peza' Perry, and released several critically acclaimed singles 'WSH', 'Tears in the Rain', and 'U Mudda U', as well as album 'Bulldogtunawasp'. They also provided several re-mixes for other artists. Kirkbride went on to play for Southern Fly and Proud Mary, as well as touring the world with a solo Noel Gallagher (Oasis). He also is accredited as playing on Oasis' album 'Dont Believe the Truth', and Pul Weller's '22 Dreams'.
Band members (1988–1992)
- Jas MannJas MannJasbinder Singh "Jas" Mann is a British song-writer, musician, singer and record producer.-Early life:...
: vocals - Dave Brown: bass guitar
- Glenn Dodd: guitar/backing vocals
- Terry Kirkbride: drums/backing vocals
Singles
- "Rain" – 1988 – released on Long Beach Records (BEACH 1)
- "Hope Springs Eternal" – 1988 – 12" single released on Long Beach Records (BEACH 2)
- "All's Well With The World" – August 1989 – 7" and 12" singles released on Long Beach Records (BEACH 3)
- "Circles" / "Need To Know" – 1990 – Double A-side 12" single released on Long Beach Records (BEACH 4)
- "Earthwheel" – 1990 – 7", 12" and CD single, released on Sugarbeach Records
- "Temple Redneck" – 1991 – 12" and CD single released on London Records
- "Shake Your Head" – 1991 – 12" and CD single, released on London Records. Featured live cover version of "Tomorrow Never KnowsTomorrow Never Knows"Tomorrow Never Knows" is the final track of The Beatles' 1966 studio album Revolver but the first to be recorded. Credited as a Lennon–McCartney song, it was written primarily by John Lennon...
" a song from RevolverRevolver (album)Revolver is the seventh studio album by the English rock group The Beatles, released on 5 August 1966 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin. Many of the tracks on Revolver are marked by an electric guitar-rock sound, in contrast with their previous LP, the folk rock inspired Rubber...
by The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. - "Let It Grow EP" – 1992 – 12" and CD single released on London Records
- "Pin Stripe Ghetto" – 1992 – 12" and CD single released on London Records
Albums
- Welcome to England – 1992 – Vinyl LP, Cassette and CD album released on London Records